HRDLICKA] SKELETAL REMAINS 65 



A study of the lower end of the shell mound on its side next to the bay gave 

 the following section : 



4. Black soil Several inches. 



3. Shells, numerous species, all of which are recent, 



about 4 feet. 



2. The base of the mound contains shells, many of 

 which are cemented together and filled with ferru 

 ginous sandstone; others are filled with greenish 

 sand. All stages from the green sand to the fer 

 ruginous sandstone are represented. The layer is 

 not uniformly developed, occurring only in places. inches. 



1. Green sand to the water level in the bay Thickness undetermined. 



A collection of shells was made from numbers 2 and 3 of the section and were 

 determined by Dr. Win. II. Dall. 



All the species found in no. 2 were also found in no. 3, and all of them are 

 recent. 



The geologic age of .2 and 3 is post-Pleistocene. Both from tho contained 

 fossils and stratigraphic relations they are younger than the Pleistocene of 

 North creek. The material in which the fossil human remains were found 

 in the old burial mound seems to correspond to the ferruginous layer at the 

 base of the shell mound, and can scarcely be older that is. the human remains 

 are post-Pleistocene in age. 



The fossilized condition of the human skeleton was considered cf particular 

 importance. A study of the processes at present going on at the base of the 

 shell mound clearly shows that no importance can be attached to the ferruginous 

 replacement of the bones. All stages in the transformation of the unconsoli- 

 dated greenish sand filling the shells to a filling with sand cemented by limonite 

 and the cementation of the whole by limonitic material can be seen. Numerous 

 seepages or springs occur along the upper surface of the green sand bed. It 

 is evident that this water contains considerable quantities of oxygen, and that it 

 is transforming the green colored ferrous silicate into red or brown ferric oxide 

 and silica. Ideal conditions are here realized for this transformation of one 

 form of iron into another. 



The conclusions regarding the skeleton found at Osprey are : First, no 

 importance can be attached to its state of fossilization ; second, the strati- 

 graphic relations of the skeleton are such as to indicate a post-Pleistocene, or, 

 expressed in other words, a geologically recent age. 



The human bones found along the shore between 1 and 2 miles south of 

 Osprey were calcareous but impregnated with minerals. The ferruginous 

 material which has been described as from the lower end of the shell mound 

 at Osprey is found southward, occurring discontinuously for several miles. 

 The upper part of the bank along the beacli is a sandy, often hummocky, soil. 

 The iron near the water s edge cements together pebbles, shells, or whatever 

 happens to be there. The material whence the human bones were obtained is a 

 lighter colored, more sandy incrustation over the ferruginous layer. There 1.? 

 nothing in the geological conditions under which they were found to indicate 

 other than a geologically recent age. 



Between twenty-four and twenty-five years ago a skull was found in ferru 

 ginous material a short distance above the pier, at Hanson s landing. The 

 skull was, at least partially, replaced by ferruginous matter. The locality 

 was studied geologically. The ferruginous material there is similar to that 

 at Osprey. It underlies surface soil and sand, consists of sand bound together 



3453 No. 3307 5 



